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Troubleshooting Guide
Start Fire Problems
Can't get fi re started
Excessive smoke or spillage
Burns too slowly
Smolders, sizzles
Fire burns too fast
Possible Cause
Not enough kindling/paper or no
kindling/paper
Damper closed/not fully open
Not enough air for fi re to ignite
Wood condition is too wet, too large
Bed of coals not established before
adding wood
Flue blockage such as birds' nests or
leaves in termination cap
Down draft or negative pressure
Competition with exhaust devices
Extremely dry or soft wood
No glass doors
Overdrafting
Heat & Glo • RUTHERFORD-36 • 4059-341 Rev D • 03/09
Solution
Use dry kindling, more paper. Arrange kindling & wood for
air movement.
Open damper.
Check for restricted cap/shroud.
Check for fl ue blockage.
Pre-warm fl ue before starting fi re (refer to starting fi re
section).
Check for adequate vent height (refer to chimney assembly
section).
Open window below the fi replace towards the wind.
Open outside air doors.
Use dry, seasoned wood (refer to wood fuel section).
Start with paper & kindling to establish bed of coals (refer to
starting fi re section).
Have chimney inspected for creosote and cleaned by a
certifi ed chimney sweep.
Do not use exhaust fans during start-up (refer to negative
pressure section).
Open window below the fi replace towards the wind.
Mix in hardwood.
Mix in less seasoned wood after fi re is established (refer to
wood fuel section).
Add glass doors to slow down air fl ow.
Check for correct vent height; too much vertical height
creates overdrafting.
Check location of vent termination (refer to chimney
assembly section).
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